The Baltimore Orioles are loaded with young, affordable talent. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman are already considered two of the best and brightest at their respective positions. Ace Corbin Burnes is one of, if not the best, pitcher in the American League. Simply put, this is a loaded franchise with an incredible foundation and championship aspirations.
And then there’s the Washington Nationals, who have been an afterthought in their own town since before the pandemic. With little investment from ownership, the on-field product has been largely unwatchable. Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Juan Soto, Trea Turner are long gone, and now locals are stuck waiting for the likes of MacKenzie Gore, Josiah Gray, Keibert Ruiz and CJ Abrams to (hopefully) usher in the next generation of franchise cornerstones.
It’s admittedly a low bar, but the Nationals over .500 for the first time since 2021. Simply having more wins than losses, courtesy of an 18-17 record, is a noteworthy milestone for a rebuilding franchise that hasn’t been remotely competitive since gutting their 2019 World Series winning roster.
Starter Trevor Williams was brilliant against the Orioles — allowing just two hits and striking out eight over five scoreless innings — and is now 4-0 with an impressive 1.96 earned run average this season. Washington still struggles to score runs consistently, but when they get such high-quality outings from starters like Williams, the Nationals are able to overcome the problem.
On the heels of their critically-acclaimed album, Where Do We Go From Here?, Asking Alexandria hit the road with Memphis May Fire, The Word Alive and Nerv for their 27-stop, “All My Friends” North American tour. The U.K.-based band has been a staple of hard rock stations around the globe since 2008 and, with eight studio albums worth of material to choose from, has no shortage of options to play over the course of a 90-minute set.
When Asking Alexandria, which is comprised of singer Danny Worsnop, guitarist Cameron Liddell, bassist Sam Bettley and drummer James Cassells, performed at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, the setlist was an ideal blend of their biggest hits and newer material, with an acoustic gem or two sprinkled in for good measure.
The night kicked off with “Closure,” a heavy track that immediately set the tone for what was to come. The explosive energy of the song was palpable, and Worsnop’s powerful vocals drew the audience in from the start. “Alone Again,” from their 2021 album, See What’s On The Inside, continued to build on that momentum and before the sold-out crowd could even think about catching their breath, they were hit with a trio of hard-hitting tracks: “Bad Blood,” “Down to Hell,” and “Into the Fire.”
While each upbeat, fast-paced track built upon the last, “Into the Fire,” in particular, stood out with its anthemic chorus and searing guitar riffs, eliciting a fervent response from the crowd. After blasting through one of their newest hits, “Dark Void,” the band finally showed a hint of mercy and dove into a surprising acoustic segment. Armed with an acoustic guitar and a world-class voice, Worsnop performed an acoustic cover of the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way.” This, of course, delighted the audience, who happily sang along at full volume. The acoustic rendition of “Someone, Somewhere” brought a sense of intimacy to the large venue, followed by “Moving On,” which started with a delicate acoustic intro before transitioning into its full-band version.
The energy in the room ramped back up with “The Violence,” a blistering track that tackles themes of societal turmoil and personal struggle. As the concert neared its end, Asking Alexandria played “A Prophecy,” a song that has become a staple in their live shows. After a brief pause, the band returned for an encore, playing “Alone in a Room.” The fan favorite was a perfect choice to end the night thanks to its introspective lyrics and powerful delivery, which provided a sense of closure, bringing the concert full circle, and ensured everyone headed home happy.
After the release of Remade In Misery, Memphis May Fire’s seventh studio album, the band has spent much of the last two years touring extensively.
Whether it’s your first time seeing Memphis May Fire in concert, or you’ve seen them live countless times, it doesn’t take long to realize lead vocalist Matty Mullins brings a distinctive voice to the stage. His soulful, bluesy tones add a depth and emotion to the band’s music that sets it apart from others in the genre.
Mullins, along with lead guitarist Kellen McGregor, bassist Cory Elder and drummer Jake Garland, swung through The Fillmore, in Silver Spring, Maryland, in support of their friends in Asking Alexandria during a grueling 27-stop, “All My Friends” North American tour.
On this night, Memphis May Fire kicked things off with “Make Believe,” the seventh track from the band’s seventh studio album.
A welcome surprise during the show was the unveiling of their newest single, “Chaotic,” from their Shapeshifter album. This marked the first time I had heard the track, but it definitely won’t be the last.
Towards the end of their set, the Texas-based band played “Miles Away,” which has long been a favorite of mine from their catalog. Listening to the song, especially when performed live, will always make me think of the sacrifices made by soldiers deployed in service to their country. And that’s one of the defining hallmarks of Memphis May Fire — their music is relatable to people from all walks of life.
The final two tracks of the night were arguably the band’s two biggest singles to date, “Misery” and “Blood & Water.” With more than 50 million and 25 million listens on Spotify, both singles clearly resonate with audiences, and the sold-out crowd at The Fillmore was no different. If Mullins had suddenly lost his voice at any point during the final two songs, the band had hundreds of capable fill-ins to choose from, as the entire audience sang along at full volume.
The moment Lionel Messi joined Major League Soccer, he became the most sought-after ticket in American sports. With the global icon closer to the end of his storybook career than the beginning, ticket prices for Inter Miami matches continue to skyrocket on the secondary market.
Season-ticket holders in every MLS market suddenly find themselves in a position where they can potentially witness greatness from one of the most decorated and celebrated athletes on the planet or sell their tickets for enough extra cash to potentially cover the cost of the entire season. It’s safe to say a wave of hype bordering on hysteria follows Inter Miami each and every time they hit the road.
Sadly, a midweek hamstring strain prevented Messi from participating in the highly anticipated matchup against DC United. Fortunately for those who paid exorbitant sums of money to attend the game, a trio of Messi’s former Barcelona teammates — Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez — featured in the match at Audi Field, although Busquets was the only one who started.
During roughly 30 minutes of game time, Suarez scored two second-half goals in a 3-1 win over previously unbeaten DC United at Audi Field. Suarez’s first goal was not without controversy as a handball in the box by Inter Miami defender Tomas Aviles wasn’t given and, while DC United players protested, Inter Miami countered and scored the eventual game-winner. The 37-year-old striker then chipped the goalie seven minutes later to seal the win for the visiting team.
DC United forward Christian Benteke returned to action after missing the last two games due to a groin injury, and midfielder Jared Stroud scored his first goal of the season — and first for the club — with a beautiful strike from the edge of the box at the 15-minute mark and an otherwise forgettable afternoon for the black and red.
DC United’s 29th season opener was easily the most unique in the storied franchise’s history. In his debut, manager Troy Lesesne was banned from the sidelines due to a red card in his final match as interim coach of the New York Red Bulls. An ongoing labor dispute meant that replacement referees were utilized in all Major League Soccer matches during opening weekend. And DC United’s supporters groups sat quietly — refusing to play the drums and/or participate in organized songs or chants — in protest of the team’s preseason trip to Saudi Arabia.
All of which combined for a quieter-than-usual atmosphere and a disjointed match that lacked any real flow. Fortunately for the black and red though, forward Christian Benteke is still the face of the franchise. The bruising Belgian provided the necessary firepower — netting a hat trick to lead his team to a 3-1 victory over the New England Revolution in the season opener at Audi Field.
Revolution forward Giacomo Vrioni received a second yellow card in just the 25th minute, forcing New England to play a man down for the bulk of the game. From there, Benteke took over, scoring a series of goals from around and within the six-yard box — utilizing his head and his feet to provide the necessary offense on a cold and rainy evening. Benteke has now scored 17 goals since the start of last season, second most in MLS.
The midpoint of the season provides a perfect opportunity for players and front offices to review what’s gone right and what needs to improve. Brutally honest assessments are vital, both on and off the ice, for the good of the franchise.
To that end, the 2023-24 Washington Capitals have proven to be a limited bunch. The offense struggles to score consistently (only two teams in the league have scored less this season), the defense has been erratic and the goaltenders remain streaky. With an aging roster that too often relies on razor-thin margins, each game further solidifies that Washington is not a true contender and that simply qualifying for the postseason might be a difficult achievement.
Nicklas Backstrom ($9.2 million this season) played just eight games before stepping away from the team thanks to a chronic hip injury. Evgeny Kuznetsov ($7.8 million) did not return after the All-Star break, having entered the NHL’s player assistance program. T.J. Oshie ($5.75 million) remains productive when healthy, but “when healthy” is a substantial disclaimer for the oft-injured winger. Alex Ovechkin’s ($9.5 million) pursuit of the NHL’s all-time scoring record is in serious jeopardy after a less-than-stellar first half of the season.
For Washington to be truly competitive this season, they need much more from their core players. With the trade deadline one month away and the Caps currently on the outside looking in at likely playoff teams — Moneypuck gives them a 1.5 percent chance of qualifying while The Athletic puts the odds at five percent — the next few weeks will decide general manager Brian MacLellan’s course of action.
Sadly, Washington’s start to the second half of the season wasn’t any better than their first half showing, as Montreal cruised to a relatively straightforward 5-2 win at Capital One Arena. Goalie Charlie Lindgren was pulled after allowing three goals on nine shots and the competitive portion of the evening concluded before the game was even 12 minutes old.
Ovechkin scored his 10th goal of the season and 832nd of his NHL career, on an otherwise forgettable night for the home team. Ovechkin is now 62 goals away from Wayne Gretzky’s record, while his Capitals are currently mired in a season-long five-game winless streak.
While there were certainly twists and turns in the road, anyone truly surprised with how the story played out wasn’t paying attention.
At his introductory news conference last month, Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters flat-out said the franchise’s next head coach wouldn’t be limited to an offensive- or defensive-minded specialist, but rather “the best leader for this organization.” Apparently, a large chunk of the fanbase either didn’t get the memo or willfully chose to ignore this message.
While many (myself included) clamored for a young, innovative coaching candidate such as Detroit’s Ben Johnson or Baltimore’s Mike Macdonald, these words from Peters should have been a strong indicator of just how seriously Dan Quinn was being considered. And look, I get it, Quinn is the human equivalent of wool pajamas. There’s nothing sexy about this hiring. But he might end up being exactly what the franchise needs at this time.
Quinn is not the next Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan. But he is universally respected by damn-near every person he has worked with during his extensive NFL coaching career. And the 53-year-old has been preparing for this possibility since he was fired five games into his sixth season as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020.
“When I left Atlanta, it was during the middle of the season,” said Quinn. “And so, you have time to reflect. It’s lonely, it’s disappointing, it’s depressing. But you don’t want to just rinse and repeat. You want to make sure: How do I take this, change it and then make sure you get to prove it again? And so that was the silver lining in this. I’m a better version of me today than I was three, four or five years ago.”
In addition to Quinn, Washington announced the hiring of Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator and Joe Whitt Jr. as defensive coordinator. Kingsbury has a proven track record of working with young, talented quarterbacks — including Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech, Kyler Murray in Arizona and Caleb Williams at USC. This addition makes a ton of sense for the Commanders, who have the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and six selections in the top 102.
On that note, if Washington is convinced that Williams is the best possible quarterback available and is willing to give up the necessary draft capital to land him, they can at least take solace in knowing that their franchise quarterback and offensive coordinator will be on the same page from the jump. But if they ultimately stay at No. 2 and select North Carolina’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels, their rookie quarterback will still be in capable hands.
Fun, but ultimately random fact: Kingsbury was New England’s sixth-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. That same season, Peters began his NFL career with the Patriots as an assistant scout.
Whitt Jr. comes from Dallas where he worked alongside Quinn as a secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator. For three seasons, the dynamic duo were typically found in close proximity in the coach’s booth during a game. As a Dallas defender causes a turnover, Quinn usually brought big energy and ample enthusiasm while Whitt Jr. was much more stoic and subdued. While Quinn was fist-pumping and high-fiving, Whitt Jr. had his head down, already focused on the next play. These two know each other well and complement one another nicely.
Also worth noting: Since taking over the Dallas secondary in ’21, Whitt’s unit led the league with 59 interceptions. Last season, Dallas’ pass defense ranked fifth in passing yards allowed per game (187.4) and recorded 17 interceptions, tied for eighth most in the NFL. Some suggested Whitt Jr. could become the new Dallas defensive coordinator if Quinn was hired elsewhere this offseason, but that obviously didn’t happen.
Instead, the duo arrives in the nation’s capital with hopes of restoring glory to a once-proud franchise. It won’t be easy, but they’re looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m going to give myself a little grace and allow one swear word here because I’ve done a pretty good job so far,” Quinn said. “I haven’t had any, and I swear a lot. But there is nothing I enjoy more than doing hard shit with good people.”
